DMK, BJP MPs spar over TN temple row

The Lok Sabha on Friday witnessed an adjournment and noisy scenes when DMK and BJP MPs locked horns over the lighting of 'Karthiga deepam' at the stone lamp pillar on the Thiruparankundram hillock near Madurai.

While TR Balu (DMK) alleged during zero hour that "some miscreants" were trying to light the lamp, minister of state for parliamentary affairs L Murugan accused the DMK government in Tamil Nadu of disobeying a court order that allowed some locals to light the lamp. Balu's particular comment, insinuating political affiliation of the judge, triggered a furore, prompting protest from parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, even as Krishna Prasad Tenneti, who was on chair, expunged the remark.Earlier, Balu's bid to raise the issue during question hour was disallowed by Speaker Om Birla, resulting in DMK members' protest and adjournment of the House till 12 noon. Raising the issue during zero hour, Balu accused the BJP of trying to "ignite" communal tensions in Tamil Nadu over the temple row. Murugan, who belongs to BJP, hit back by accusing the state's DMK government of "denying the right to worship" despite a court order allowing lighting of lamps.

Balu asked: "Who should light the deepam on the hill? Whether the Hindu Religious Endowment Board representative or some miscreants who have got a judgement..." Murugan accused the DMK government of denying the right to worship to devotees. "The state government is targeting a particular community and law and order of that region is being vitiated. The Tamil Nadu Police have arrested devotees," Murugan said.